UNPACKONLYONCE

Rail TourNorth Coast

Winter 2021 JOURNEYSvintagerailjourneys.com.au 1300 421 422

ex-Brisbane

Step back in time with the team at Vintage Rail Journeys and travel in style on board our fleet of newly restored 1960s ex-Southern Aurora sleeping carriages.

This exceptional 4 day, 3 night journey takes you along the scenic North Coast Line through the Northern Rivers regions, the Mid-North Coast and the Central Coast of New South Wales.

welcome aboardFrom the Queensland Capital of Brisbane, you’ll cross the border into NSW, and discover the breathtaking hinterland rainforest and eclectic community of Byron Bay, the crystal clear creeks and uncrowded surf beaches of the Macleay Valley Coast and enjoy a trip on the iconic ‘Riverboat Postman’ on the Hawkesbury River.

G’day and

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North Coast Rail Tour | vintagerailjourneys.com.au | 1300 421 4222

welcome aboard

Main train line

Stable overnight

During the North Coast Rail Tour we spend time in the ancestral lands of the Wonnarua; Bunghutti and

Bundjalung people. Sydney

Maitland

Kempsey

Coffs Harbour

Brisbane

Casino Byron Bay

Port Macquarie

Newcastle

Paterson

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Unpack only once and enjoy everything that slow rail touring provides. The itinerary is designed so that we only travel during daylight hours. We don’t want you to miss any of the spectacular scenery.

Highlights include:

• Historic Maitland & Morpeth;

• North Coast Rail Line;

• Arakoon National Park;

• Kempsey Museum;

• Byron Bay Solar Train;

• Food and shopping Byron Bay style;

• Heritage Rail Cars.

Sleep on the train in restored ex-Southern Aurora Sleeping carriages. Your private cabin converts to a day travel configuration.

Dining and Lounge carriages are available when travelling.

Meals are as listed in the tour itinerary. Meals served on the train are freshly prepared by our on board chef using local ingredients from each region.

Sightseeing is included in private chartered coaches at each stop for off train excursions, and we also offer the unique ‘Aurora Explorer’ concept.

4 Days and 3 Nights Commences: Roma Street 10:00am Saturday

Concludes: Sydney Central 4:00pm Tuesday

Pricing (GST inclusive)Twin Share: $2,795 per person Single: $2,795 per person

Please contact us on 1300 421 422; visit www.vintagerailjourneys.com.au; or contact your travel agent for available dates.

North Coast Rail Tour | vintagerailjourneys.com.au | 1300 421 422 3

You might remember the iconic Southern Aurora running between Sydney and Melbourne from the 1960’s to the 1980’s. The darling of Australian travel, the Southern Aurora was first class in its day.

Vintage Rail Journeys is proud to share with you our passion for Australian railway history. Our heritage partners have lovingly restored these carriages to their original condition and maintained them ever since. This is luxury 1960’s style, and we hope you love the experience.

Your carriage

Fully escortedYour Vintage Rail Journey will be led by a professional, trained Tour Manager, assisted by on board crew to ensure you will enjoy a trouble free adventure.

LuggageAs a guide, the space for luggage in the Twinette cabins is 98cm length x 24cm width x 59cm height. There is also hanging space available in the cabin. In the Roomette cabins, the luggage can be placed on the luggage racks above your footrest. Slim or soft luggage can be stowed under your seat. If this rail tour is part of a longer tour, you will be able to store larger items in our luggage van.

Wine and alcoholic drinksWater, Soft drinks and Juices are included. The bar on the Aurora Australis is licensed to sell alcoholic drinks and are at an additional cost.

Sleeping ArrangementsThe Aurora Australis will be stabled overnight for sleeping, and you may elect to sleep on the train in a twinette (2 to a cabin) or a roomette (single use only). The Twinette cabin has bunk beds and one member of your party will need to be able to climb a ladder up to and down from the top bunk.

awaits you!

North Coast Rail Tour | vintagerailjourneys.com.au | 1300 421 4224

Carriageplans

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The Farm, Byron Bay Img: Destination NSW

Saturday

Your Northern Rivers adventure starts at Roma Street Station at 10:00am. Today you will board 1950’s design Heritage Rail Cars

heading towards the border and into New South Wales to join the Aurora Australis in Casino.

These self propelled vintage trains are as cute as a button! As part of your journey today you will traverse the Border Loop Spiral and tunnels, where the railway descends 30 metres without making any forward progress. We hope you enjoy spending time on these rail cars as you take the first leg of your North Coast Rail Tour with us.

Due to the limited capacity of the Heritage Rail Cars, there will be an early and late departure from Roma Street.

The early departure will enjoy a light lunch on board the train, and then spend the afternoon exploring the vibrant regional centre of Lismore, home to one of NSW’s most artistic communities, full of performers, painters, poets and musicians.

The late departure will enjoy a guided tour (including lunch) in the Queensland Capital, Brisbane, before boarding the Heritage Rail Cars travelling to Casino.

You will then be welcomed aboard the Aurora Australis where you can choose to sit in the lounge or dining cars, or your private cabin.

Dinner will be served on-board the train this evening.

This evening we will be stabled at the heritage listed Old Casino Railway Station for the night.

Subject to change due to circumstances beyond

our control.

Day 1Roma Street Station - Casino

Casino - Byron Bay - Kempsey

Day 2

Sunday

Enjoy breakfast on board the Aurora Australis at Old Casino Railway Station. You will then

board our ‘Aurora Explorer’ buses to take you to Byron Bay, a place known for its natural attractions and eclectic community. All guests will have the opportunity to ride the Byron Bay Solar Train (bus timetable provided on the day), the world’s first solar train.

While at Byron Bay, join the ‘Aurora Explorer’ bus with stops including The Farm, an 86-acre working biological farm in Ewingsdale; Stone and Wood Brewery who are local, independent and inspired by the idea of the ‘village brewery’.

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Lovers of shopping and fashion are in for a treat today in Byron Bay. The ‘Aurora Explorer’ bus will take you to Habitat North Beach which is nestled in the heart of the Arts and Industry Estate, and is Byron Bay’s latest community and lifestyle hub. Of course no trip to Byron Bay is complete without a walk along Fletcher Street in the CBD. Dotted with all the best Byron Bay shops including charming boutiques, stocking luxuriant fashion labels and one-of-a-kind homeware pieces. You can also go to the beach, visit the many cafes, restaurants and bars or just wander through Byron Bay today.

Lunch today is at your own choice and cost.

Your ‘Aurora Explorer’ buses will return you to Old Casino Railway Station and we head down the North Coast Railway line to Kempsey Railway Station where we will be stabling for the night.

Dinner will be served on-board the train this evening.

Subject to change due to circumstances beyond

our control.

The Stone and Wood Brewery, Byron Bay Img: Destination NSW

North Coast Rail Tour | vintagerailjourneys.com.au | 1300 421 422 7

Monday

After breakfast on board at the Kempsey Railway Station, the ‘Aurora Explorer‘ bus will take you into the mid north coast town of Kempsey, sitting by

the Macleay River. We will visit the Slim Dusty Centre, an innovative museum dedicated to Australia’s iconic legend Slim Dusty where you will experience a wealth of music history and Australian culture and art. We will also visit the Kempsey Museum, where you can experience Aboriginal history, boot making, timber industry, military history, natural history, dairy industry, shipping, historical vehicles to name just a few subjects touched on in the collections, displays and historic artifacts.

You can also spend time in the Dunghutti-Ngaku Aboriginal Art Gallery, the gallery showcases and markets works of prominent, established and emerging Aboriginal artists of the Dunghutti region and Mid North Coast area.

Day 3Kempsey – Paterson

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North Coast Rail Tour | vintagerailjourneys.com.au | 1300 421 4228

We will also spend time in the Arakoon National Park and the South West Rocks area. National Parks in this area have the best vantage points to see whales during their annual migration (from May to November). Guests will walk through the Trial Bay Gaol, an open air museum which captures the history of the gaol.

Lunch today is at your own choice and cost.

Your ‘Aurora Explorer’ buses will return you to Kempsey station where we will continue along the North Coast Railway line to the Paterson Rail Motor Museum where we will be stabling for the night.

Dinner will be served on-board the train this evening.

Subject to change due to circumstances beyond

our control.

Smoky Bay Lighthouse, South West Rocks Img: Kempsey Shire Council

North Coast Rail Tour | vintagerailjourneys.com.au | 1300 421 422 9

North Coast Rail Tour | vintagerailjourneys.com.au | 1300 421 42210

Day 4

Tuesday

Enjoy breakfast on board this morning as we travel through the lower Hunter Valley, skirt around Newcastle,

through the ‘Venice of Australia’ to Brisbane Water, alongside Mullet Creek to the spectacular Hawkesbury River.

We will depart the train at the Hawkesbury station for a lunch cruise with the ‘Riverboat Postman’. The Riverboat Postman started its run in 1910 and still to this day delivers mail and other essentials to the river-access-only residents on behalf of Australia Post.

After our cruise we will board the train for the last time, concluding your rail journey at Central Station at approximately 4:00pm.

You will have had a truly memorable Vintage Rail Journey!

Subject to change due to circumstances beyond

our control.

Paterson – Sydney Central

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and BookingsInformation

LuggageAs a guide, the space for luggage in the Twinette cabins is 98cm length x 24cm width x 59cm height. There is also hanging space available in the cabin. In the Roomette cabins, the luggage can be placed on the luggage racks above your footrest. Slim or soft luggage can be stowed under your seat. If this rail tour is part of a longer tour, you will be able to store larger items in our luggage van.

Wine and alcoholic drinksWater, Soft drinks and Juices are included. The bar on the Aurora Australis is licensed to sell alcoholic drinks and are at an additional cost.

How to make a reservationVisit www.vintagerailjourneys.com.au to complete our online booking form. You will be asked to provide a 10% deposit by credit card or direct deposit.

Full payment is due 90 days prior to tour departure as per the booking form. Cancellation charges are detailed on the booking form.

Joining and departing the tourThe North Coast Rail Tour commences at Roma Street Station, Brisbane, and concludes at Sydney Central Railway Station. Approximately 10 days prior to departure you will receive a welcome letter confirming the tour departure time and also any information specific to the tour on which you are travelling.

Fitness & mobilityOur tour requires a reasonable level of fitness and a good level of mobility.Heritage trains are not designed to accommodate wheelchair bound or walker reliant passengers. If booking a twinette room, 1 member of your party will need to be able to climb a ladder up to and down from the top bunk. You will need to be able to embark and disembark trains, coaches and other methods of transportation without assistance, handle your own luggage, walk moderate distances, stand comfortably and climb steps and stairs.

Legend

Tours are planned by G’Day Rail (Australia) Pty Ltd trading as Vintage Rail Journeys

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North Coast Rail Tour | vintagerailjourneys.com.au | 1300 421 42212